Robert Heinlein

My cousin suggested that I read The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, by Robert Heinlein, and from that moment I was obsessed. Does anyone else out there just think that he is the greatest author ever? What are your favorite Heinlein books? Mine are Citizen of the Galaxy and Starship Troopers.

I've only read Starship Troopers but I loved it, and listen to it on my Ipod all the time

So far i sadly haven't read anything from Heinlein, but i definitely want to read Stranger in a Strange Land and after it, i'll decide if i'll read his other works too!!

By the way, how do you like it so far?? Please, don't forget i haven't read it yet, so please no spoilers

I'm probably in the minority as always

I don't like him. I find his work really boring. Stranger in a Strange land, for me, is so overrated. I tried to read 3 of his other novels but it's the same deal with them. I find him unsubtle and preachy

Hm, i can't really argue with you here Wabbit, because, though i'm a quick reader at the moment, i still haven't read Stranger in a Strange Land so far

And, sitting here and having a look at my pile of books i still want to read before Stranger , i guess it will still take me a few month until i can argue with you about Heinlein and especially Stranger

So far, I really like Stranger in a Strange Land. SillyWabbit, which of his other novels have you read?

Oh, it's been a long time and I don't have the books any longer....

Stranger in a Strange Land
Friday
JOB? ( The one where he travels across lots of different dimensions? )
Oh and The Moon is a Harsh Mistress

Of the ones that I tried Friday was the only one I was able to actually finish

My favorite Heinlein book is "The Door Into Summer", hands down.

two other great novels by Heinlein are Time Enough for Love and Citizen of the Galaxy. i read Citizen of the Galaxy basically in one sitting, it is a great book for readers new to Heinlein or even sci-fi in general.

SillyWabbit said:

Oh, it's been a long time and I don't have the books any longer....

Stranger in a Strange Land
Friday
JOB? ( The one where he travels across lots of different dimensions? )
Oh and The Moon is a Harsh Mistress

Of the ones that I tried Friday was the only one I was able to actually finish

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As much as I like Stranger, I think his earlier works are probably more engaging and less preachy, Moon being one of his earlier and more accessible works than the others on your list. And Friday is supposed to be written from a woman's perspective! (Maybe it was an exercise ... )

His juvies, like Red Planet and Have Spacesuit, Will Travel are better examples of his storytelling abilities; less preachy and not too juvie ...

Glory Road is my favorite.

The Moon is a Harsh Mistress is one of my favorites. I like Friday too--its a good story. A Door Into Summer rounds out my top three. I read those just about every year.

Most of his Lazarus Long stuff is good but sometimes you just wish the guy would get his butt kicked or something you know? Just once?

I might be the only one who enjoyed Heinlein's Podkayne of Mars more than his others.

SillyWabbit said:

Stranger in a Strange Land
Friday
JOB? ( The one where he travels across lots of different dimensions? )
Oh and The Moon is a Harsh Mistress

Of the ones that I tried Friday was the only one I was able to actually finish

Click to expand...

I think you choose the wrong books to begin with. The only other book by Heinlen that is harder to chew than the ones you picked (with the possible exception of "Friday which I haven't read") is "Time Enough For Love" out of the books I've read at least. If you didn't finish them it's understandable if you didn't fancy them because most of them start slowly and improves with time.

"Stranger in a Strange Land" seems like a traditional science fiction novel in the beginning with space travels and technical jargon.

"Job: A Comedy of Justice" is in my opinion too long since it eventually eventually just repeats itself and those chapters are probably just there to introduce characters. Great novel though and it's worth hanging on until the end.

"The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" is considered to be Heinlein's best by many but I think that it's a bit overrated. The main character may differ from the characters of Heinlein's other books as he doesn't have any kind of winning expertise (that I can remember) but I thought that he was quite dull and took up too much of the novel. I was a lot more intrigued by the anarchist.

My favourite books are "Revolt in 2100", "Tunnel in the Sky", "Starship Troopers" and "Stranger in a Strange Land".

I would recommend "Tunnel in the Sky" to begin with to get a taste of Heinleinism.

Alright, if I ever seen tunnel going cheap then might give it a go

Or you could try library so you could keep your hard earned squids even if it means that you'll have to deal with brown stains that you hope is chocolate. Because "Tunnel in the Sky" is a book for "youths" and even though most of Heinlein's youth books have a higher bar than others, the parents of the filthy worm babies that see the book in the youth section might not know that, so it could have been in the filthy hands of someone who drools.

Happy National (in US at least) Library Week! You get the best of both worlds, there: a book that's broken in and didn't cost a cent (save for taxes, I suppose ...)

The only Heinlein novel I have read is Farmer In The Sky, which is actually one of his very early novel's. I thought it was interesting to read; what with the fact it was written pre-Sputnik and had all sorts of interesting ideas about space travel and space habitation. Some of them seem quite ridiculous now but I'm sure were quite mind-boggling when the novel was written. The ending was quite surprising too if I remember correctly. Would not consider the writing to be astounding though.
I have Heinlein's Double Star too, but that may not be read for awhile.

When I was in High School, many, many years ago, (long enough ago that Heinlein was still alive), I read every piece of work from Heinlein I could find.

By far, my favorite was turned out to be an anthology called "The Green Hills of Earth". Probably one of the most comprehensive collections of his shorts stories ever collected in one place.

I do agree that towrds the end of his life, Heinlein was preachy, political and kinda weirding me out with his incestuous sub-plots.
Still one of my all time favorite authors.

GreenMonkey said:

My favorite Heinlein book is "The Door Into Summer", hands down.

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I quite agree. After that I'd say that Job comes next.

I do agree though that Stranger in a Strange Land is a bit over-rated. Though it should still be on every sci-fi fans must read list.

Next up for me is two Robert A. Heinlein novels (back-to-back)



...and right after that one: